An IT expert, Ambrose Yennah has warned of the collapse of the digitalisation agenda if financial support and other resources are not provided to shape and transform the technology industry.

According to him, government efforts to digitise the Ghanaian economy and stimulate growth will become a mirage if adequate support is not provided.

Speaking about the upcoming “Africa Technovate Awards Fair,” Mr. Yennah expressed worry over the application deficiency of technology in the country, pointing out, that the prevalence of these key challenges serve as a hindrance to the total actualisation of its advancement in the country.

He therefore reiterated the need for collaborative efforts from the government and other stakeholders to support the sector.

“Financing can be a challenge, but I think we are dealing with it and then we have infrastructure development gap, infrastructure financing gap and then technical capacity. Do we have all the human resources in terms of people and skills? So that is where we need to build human capacity.”

“It requires all technology institutions, government, politicians to come together, work together, harness and exploit the best brains in these sectors to be able to chat some path for Africa.”

In the company’s effort to promote and reward IT innovators, Mr. Yennah explained the essence of the award scheme, saying, it will help showcase technology innovations in Africa and celebrate the brains behind them.

“We developed this programme which we call “The Africa Technovate Awards and Fair.” We noticed that there hasn’t been any wide continent awards ceremony for top-performing ICT and technology companies. There are technology companies that have been operating close to 15 years and more, delivering quality services throughout Africa and some of them are not even known because we don’t celebrate them”.

“Their [technology companies] achievements are not trumpeted and they are young and innovative Africans also coming up with lots of brilliant ideas and digital solutions; and there is no support for them. So AIDEC digital decided this year to do an awards ceremony”, he added.

Pledging support for the event, a multiple award-winning artiste, Wiyaala, shared the contributions of technology in the creative art industry and promised the audience of a thrilling performance at the awards night.

“I am very happy to be part and performing because as a young musician I know the importance of the digital world. This programme is everything Africa. Africa moving forward, Africa catching up with the rest of the world. I will be entertaining lots of people.”    

The awards ceremony is slated for the 2^ndApril, 2022 and will be held at the University of Professional Studies (UPSA) Accra, whereas the closing date for nominations has been fixed for Tuesday 15^th February, 2022.